Demand for smart educational toys continues to grow in markets across EMEA, leading to a wave of new products coming to market. Distributors, retailers and e-tailers are also starting to take note, expanding their portfolios in response. One of the latest products under development is Tacobot, an easy-to-programme robot that can play stimulating games and makes learning coding skills easy for young children. Tacobot is currently running a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter. Tacobot is offering what it claims is the world’s first stackable coding robot aiming to bring kids an intuitive and interesting start to STEM learning.
Read full story

Exertis, a leading distributor of technology products for the B2B, mobile and retail markets today announced the promotion of Jamie Brothwell to the newly created position of business development director. In addition, Al Coyne steps up to lead Exertis’ print division. Both roles report into Phil Brown, Exertis, sales and commercial director and are effective from January 2019.
Read full story

DISTREE Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) has released preliminary findings from its 2018 EMEA Consumer Tech Channel Survey. Smart Home, Gaming & Gaming Accessories, Mobile Devices and Audio (Headphones & Speakers) were identified as the product categories with the most growth potential in EMEA in 2019, according to this year’s survey. Hundreds of distributors, retailers and e-tailers participated in the annual DISTREE EMEA survey.
Read full story

Distributor RP tech India is bullish over the booming gaming business opportunity in India. RP tech has announced its aim to become a ‘one stop shop’ for all the gaming needs of the fast-growing community of gamers in India. With more than 65% of India’s population under 35, a recent joint study by Google India and KPMG claimed that India’s online gaming community would add 190 million new gamers by 2021 and become a US$1 billion market opportunity.
Read full story

DICOTA has been the first port of call for highly functional, premium quality carrying solutions for 25 years. The company remains highly committed to its channel partners and continues to innovate its product portfolio to drive consumer demand. DICOTA has confirmed its participation at regional consumer tech and consumer electronics (CE) hosted buyer channel event DISTREE EMEA 2019, which takes place in Monaco next February. Channel EMEA, an official Media Partner for DISTREE EMEA, caught up with Michael Mühlenbruch, Chief Sales Officer at DICOTA, to get the inside track on the company’s plans for 2019.
Read full story

NASDAQ-quoted accessories company ZAGG has acquired Gear4 from STRAX for US$40m – the equivalent of Gear4’s projected 2018 sales. Accounting for 23% market share in the UK and with significant growth in North America this year, Gear4’s extensive range of impact absorbing smartphone cases covers all leading handsets. Gear4’s cases exclusively feature D3O technology, the thinnest and most advanced impact and shock absorbing material currently used in professional sports, industrial and military equipment applications.
Read full story

GfK has been confirmed as an official Event Partner for DISTREE Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) 2019, the region’s leading hosted buyer event for consumer technology, consumer electronics (CE) and IT channels. DISTREE EMEA will take place in Monaco from February 19th to 22nd 2019. GfK connects data and science. Innovative research solutions provide answers for key business questions around consumers, markets, brands and media – now and in the future.
Read full story

Fast-growing smartphone brand NUU Mobile continues to accelerate its channel reach across the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region. Noour Ali, global sales director at NUU Mobile, said: “We have recently signed Al Futtaim as a distributor for the UAE market, One Trading for Egypt and Amtel Limited to cover Kuwait. We have also signed Smart Connections for the growing markets in Tanzania and Kenya.”
Read full story

Consumer technology brand CTRONIQ scored a huge success with retailer Carrefour in Kenya with its recent Black Friday promotion. A strong social media campaign, backed up by aggressive price points, saw hundreds of CTRONIQ LED televisions sold in just a few hours. The offer was only available on Friday 23rd November for shoppers visiting Carrefour’s retail outlets in Nairobi.
Read full story

Exertis, a leading distributor of technology products for the B2B, mobile and retail markets today announced a UK agreement to distribute the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL from Google. “We are delighted to be offering the Google Pixel 3 to our customers. The phone has been receiving great reviews in the media based on its excellent display, stunning cameras and software experience,” said Mark Weston, Exertis mobile sales director.
Read full story